Wiggins' sentence may be an omen for ex-TSU presidentWith Priscilla Slade's trial looming, defense slams the remarks made after former CFO got 10 years

Published 5:30 am, Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Quintin Wiggins, left, hears his sentence for misappropriation of funds. Next to him is one of his attorneys, Arthur Washington. Wiggins received 10 years for his role in the TSU scandal.

Quintin Wiggins, left, hears his sentence for misappropriation of funds. Next to him is one of his attorneys, Arthur Washington. Wiggins received 10 years for his role in the TSU scandal.

Photo: Steve Campbell, Chronicle

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Prosecutor Julian Ramirez, second from right, talks to the media after the sentencing of Quintin Wiggins. Wiggins received 10 years for misappropriation of funds at TSU.

Prosecutor Julian Ramirez, second from right, talks to the media after the sentencing of Quintin Wiggins. Wiggins received 10 years for misappropriation of funds at TSU.

Photo: Steve Campbell, Chronicle

Wiggins' sentence may be an omen for Slade

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The 10-year prison sentence handed to Texas Southern University's former chief financial officer on Tuesday doesn't bode well for the school's former president, Priscilla Slade, who faces her own trial in three months, a prosecutor warned.

"I think it's a reality check for her," Assistant District Attorney Donna Goode said after Quintin Wiggins was sentenced for his role in a scheme to illegally use hundreds of thousands of university dollars.

Slade's attorney called Goode's remarks unethical and said they could jeopardize his client's chances for a fair trial.

"Dr. Slade is presumed innocent, and I intend to try her case in the courtroom, not in the press," said Mike DeGeurin.

A jury that convicted Wiggins last week of misapplication of fiduciary property over $200,000 decided on the sentence Tuesday after deliberating for about four hours over two days. He was found guilty of participating in the illegal use of TSU funds for lavish improvements to Slade's home, including expensive furniture, landscaping and a security system.

Now that Wiggins has been convicted, even though he received no clear benefit from the crime other than the power of his position, Goode said she expects jurors to be harder on Slade, who is accused of reaping the benefits.

She said she expects to present four times as much evidence against Slade as she did in Wiggins' trial and show "much more misspending for a longer period of time."

"She hit the ground running when she first became president in 1999," Goode said.

Slade, 55, who was fired in June, is scheduled for trial Aug. 10 on two counts of misapplication of fiduciary property over $200,000. In preparation for her defense, DeGeurin had a lawyer from his firm sit through much of Wiggins' trial.

Attorney cites differences

In an e-mail responding to Goode's statements, DeGeurin wrote, "Dr. Slade's trial is not Mr. Wiggins' trial. There will be different issues, witnesses, evidence and a different jury — one that hopefully will not be prejudiced by the prosecution's improper media releases."

He said it was improper and unethical for a prosecutor to make comments that might prejudice an accused person's constitutionally protected presumption of innocence.

Before jurors began deliberating on Wiggins' sentence, Goode told them that he was an arrogant and calculating "henchman" doing Slade's bidding to the detriment of TSU's students and employees.

"This is a criminal in a suit and tie," Goode said.

She presented evidence of Wiggins' four prior misdemeanor convictions, including two for drunken driving and one each for impersonating a peace officer and unlawfully taking unemployment compensation. She told jurors that "somebody was asleep at the wheel" when Wiggins was hired at TSU.

Defense attorneys said Wiggins was a scapegoat unfairly held responsible for all of TSU's financial problems.

"We believe Mr. Wiggins has been portrayed as the fall guy in all of this," said attorney L. Mickelé Daniels. "One man can't bring down a university."

After the sentence was read, he said, Wiggins was "very emotional and very distraught."

Wiggins' wife and brother, who were present when the verdict was read, declined to comment.

Daniels said he expects to appeal. State District Judge Brock Thomas denied his request that Wiggins remain free on bail while awaiting appeal.

Because of certain elements, including the fact that he did not use a weapon or commit a violent act, Wiggins is not required to serve a particular percentage of the sentence.

He resigned in March 2006 after the TSU Board of Regents placed him on paid leave in connection with the investigation into the spending scandal.

Slade was fired after TSU attorneys concluded that she had failed to follow university policies and state laws while spending more than $260,000. A criminal investigation concluded that more than $1.9 million was spent during her tenure on questionable purchases.

Former TSU Vice President Bruce Wilson, 53, charged with one count of misapplication of fiduciary property, is set for trial Sept. 28.